Sheriff Jerry Demings discusses recent rash of juvenile crime

Juveniles are responsible for a brand new rash of violent crimes across Orange County, according to Sheriff Jerry Demings. Demings calls it a community problem and said that it requires a community solution. Michelle Meredith reports.

Juveniles are responsible for a brand new rash of violent crimes across Orange County, according to Sheriff Jerry Demings.

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Demings calls it a community problem and said that it requires a community solution.

The sheriff said that so far, four teens have been arrested for allegedly committing very violent crimes. A 14-year-old is accused of carjacking his 61-year-old neighbor's car, taking her purse and prescription drugs including morphine, Xanax and oxycodone. In the same week, the teen was also accused of asking another woman for a ride. Deputies said he pepper sprayed and carjacked her. The teen was caught, but the woman's two dogs, Frankie Rey and Chico, are still missing.

"We do seem to have a spike of a few, I would say, a few teens who seem to be engaged in violent activities. This is going to take the community to intervene in the lives of these young people to redirect this effort, so we need the clergy and other places of worship to go in and create opportunities for these young people to go in and be in a healthy environment," Demings said.

Three additional teens were accused in another carjacking. When arrested, the 15-year-old in the group confessed to four additional carjackings, and he was found to have a gun.